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Author
Topic: Cost of Living with HIV (Read 9575 times)

I just go my Health Care Summary from BCBS. Reporting Period from January 2007 to September 2007 so far my HIV cost for meds and doctors visits are $ 30356.61, provider billed amount. If I had no insurance I could never afford to pay this amount of money.

It is insane -- the amount that my insurance (Aetna) has paid so far in 2007 is $42,702.78. I can't even imagine what that would actually be if the non-negotiated amount was available. Fortunately, my out of pocket piece of the costs has only been $2,598.70. I'm just ever so grateful that I have such good insurance -- I know that I am in the minority.

"The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn`t mean that God doesn`t love heterosexuals. It`s just that they need more supervision." -- Lynn Lavne

Thankfully I have good Health insurance through my job. I pay a $5 copay for my prescriptions and Doctor's visits. But so many people here in the U.S. don't have health insurance or they pay a lot for health insurance. This is why I agree with some of the Politicians on changing our health care system.

When Mini was 19 months old, her PID called and said, "Congratulations, you now have a million dollar baby." That included 5mths in the hospital, blood work every week (then every other week), 2 surgeries, Broviac care products, in home nursing care 2x, IV supplies delivered to our house, OT, PT, ST, and Developmental therapy 2x/wk each, an MRI, AFOs (leg braces), growth hormone testing, 13 doctors in 2 states, blood transfusions, genotyping, and numerous med changes. She was "given" a medical card when she was born. Even when we had insurance through dh's work, we were allowed to use her card for 100% of her medical stuff. Otherwise, I'm not sure how we could've afforded everything. She's now almost 7 1/2 and I don't WANT to know what her total is now. I read somewhere that caring for a child who is dx'd HIV+ at birth through adulthood could be in excess of over $5million usd. I think even that number is low.

Everyone here in the U.S. needs to watch the movie "Sicko." I did and it made me very angry. We need a major change to the health care system here. We shouldn't have to pay for medical care in this rich nation of ours. When I got the statement at the beginning of this year for how much Medicare Part D paid for my meds for last year it was in the $40,000 range. Unbelievable.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

We shouldn't have to pay for medical care in this rich nation of ours. When I got the statement at the beginning of this year for how much Medicare Part D paid for my meds for last year it was in the $40,000 range. Unbelievable.

At the risk of sounding a bit like Jack :

No matter which system of paying for health care is used -- We will be paying for it. Money doesn't fall from the sky into the Treasury -- We, the People, pay taxes. So we will be paying.Now -- having said that, let me pull back a little -- I do agree that we need a different system and I do agree that ability to pay shouldn't be a factor in receiving care. What I liked best about Sicko was that it laid bare how ridiculously expensive health care is in the US compared to most other nations. I just felt that need to point out that even with Single Payer health care -- it isn't free. My personal opinion is that part of the reason we are where we are is that we want the best of everything, we want it now and we want someone else to pay for it.

I am so grateful to live in Canada where all my health care is free and even my meds are covered by a government run drug plan. Yes, we all pay with our taxes but we all get the best care available without going into debt or losing our homes.

My meds were a little over 24,000 US dollars last year. My out of pocket max is 1,000 so in Jan, I pay a 1,000 and the rest of the year everything is free.

The year I was very sick with two bouts of PCP, a lymphoma scare and various other hospitalizations, my total hospital bills were over 500,000 dollars, we paid 50 dollars.

So thankful we have insurance, so pissed off at the high cost. When I was in the hospital each regular strength tylenol cost 11 dollars. I was taking 2 every four hours. I mean c'mon I get 500 tablets at Costco for 8 bucks!!!!

Now that so many people have seen "sicko" and a few have actually tried to verify what he says and promotes in that diatribe I think it is useful to offer a little rational view/ opinion to the pot....... Those of you with full covered ( socialist) government paid medical coverage are very fortunate......someone has been paying for your care out of pocket in many ways ..maybe even you..."no free lunch" .... government doesn't get medicine, facilities or professional staff for no cost they pay for it...Governments get their income from you ..directly or indirectly...virtually everyone they ( the govmnt) does business with does so with the intent of being paid.......... In the oft talked about ideal of Canada and the UK there is a thriving "private" practice of medicine.....surely the patients of these Dr's could get "free" care... why don't they? why is there such a demand for "private Patients /Dr's?" why do many of them travel to the USA for treatment?In Mr Moores depiction of the evil USA, only greedy hospitals and greedier Pharma companies control the Medical market" and are squeezing exorbitant amounts of money from people who cannot pay.....he very carefully selects some really sad cases of people who have been short changed and applies that extremely broad brush totally across the whole system....... anyone who cares to look can find multiple cases ( thousands actually) in any city or town with a Hospital that are treated for little or no cost....virtually all emergencies are treated without question or regard to citizenship many times a simple questionnaire is used to determine "ability to pay" and frequently there is no charge or nominal charges....the county Hospital in Dallas provides more maternity care and services than almost all the other the other Hospital in the area put together and most of the time it is "free" also true of all the emergencies and "clinic" patients.....I know the same is true in most medium to large cities...... I find it particularly disingenuous for persons from other places who have no first hand knowledge of how the system actually works but yet have scathing comments about how terrible it is.....If you have read the responses on this thread you have seen people who have insurance who are being treated and paying "nominal amounts for the meds and service they get...you have also seen/ read about people on various "programs" that pay virtually nothing for their meds /services...unfortunately there are still some that either have none of this available to them or for some reason don't/ haven't qualified . Some of you have lived in various places around the world...I have ....and I have seen on a very personal day to day basis how people live/work/ exist......virtually everywhere I have had occasion to work with the locals I have been approached with " how do I get to work/live in America"?..... I guess this isn't such a bad place!!!!!!

I would really hate to see what my total bill is for a year. I know the meds are over 66 grand at this time per year. Not including Dr. visits, labs and tests. I have no idea what the total medical care is. I know it's nothing like the bills for my first two years with long stays in the hospitals. Eww, just the thought of two years ago creeps me out.

I am not saying that the United States is a horrible place to live. But I do think it's shameful that people in this country cannot get free medical care. I know people in Europe pay a lot in taxes etc. but it's nothing compared to what some people's medical care cost (mine included). It's the Bush administration's blind eye to the furthering gap between the wealthy and poor. Pretty soon there will be no "middle class." I wonder if they've already ceased to exist, except for some of my neighbors who seem to be making it in a middle-class sort of way. Of course I don't live with them either, and what seems like utopia might not be at all. I wouldn't be too anxious to put-down Sicko. I still stand by what I said earlier, that every American should watch it. Would I want to live anywhere else? At this time in my life (42), with established friends, school (even though I'm paying out the ass for that and it's free in Europe), disability (if only it would transfer), no. If I was younger and I had the option of moving to say, Europe, or even Canada, hell yes I would jump on it. I'm sure every place has its drawbacks. But to think this is the best country in the world seems a bit naive.Peace-Betty

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

We certainly do need to rethink how we pay for health care in the US. No one should have to wait until they need "emergency care" before they can get it.

I do want to revisit something I said earlier -- no matter the system -- NOTHING IS FREE. Be it healthcare, schooling, whatever.... someone is paying for it. I think it is dangerous to throw around the word "Free" in this regard. Everything costs something.

Do I think the US is the best place to live? I don't know -- I've only lived in the US, so it's hard to say. There are good things and bad things in any country, I'd guess. The ol' "grass is always greener" thing. I'm here now, and my hiv limits my ability to try living elsewhere, so I'll have to make the best of it. I do know that there aren't too many countries where I could go from growing up on welfare to having the job and life I do today. I am ever so grateful for my insurance and financial stability -- yes, either could change pretty damn quick, but that is life and I'm taking what I've been dealt. There are far worse places that I could have been born.

One thing to remember when viewing any healthcare related dollar amounts is the difference between billed charges and provider reimbursement. Depending on where you are treated, the relationship between charges and what a facility is actually paid might be 10 to 1. Charges have little meaning especially in a managed care environment, and are very highly inflated over levels of reimbursement to the provider and the actual cost to the provider of providing the care (salaries, supplies, infrastructure, etc.).

Betty, you are blaming the Bush administration? How about the Clinton administration? I just heard Hillary's interview where she said she dropped the Universal Health Care because it was too political. I don't think you can pin it on any political party. If it was put on the ballot next November to raise our taxes to fund Universal Health Care do you think it would pass? I don't believe it would have a chance in hell of passing.

Hilary is a realist....she is well aware of the whole picture that is involved with "free" anything" whether the Dems or the Republicans support the program is almost irrelevant......the Congress as a whole is the problem.....someone has to pay and the power of the pen usually goes with the ones who have the most to lose......every Congressman / Senator or other administration official is always on the watch for the "people back home" will they support his/her decision? ...it usually comes down to" that depends" on who pays and who "gains" One of the worst "voting" records in the world is owned by the US.....but that doesn't mean the "folks " at home don't let their representatives know what they expect of them... and I totally agree with Rod...."universal Health care will not survive " a ballot or a folks at home test.....in spite of the lopsided and highly selective view of MR Moore .....I have lived in a State where the idea and practice of the Universal Health care was ingrained...Massachusetts..but there was never a direct vote for it...the "politicians" gradually introduced it along with essentially free education over a number of years and there was little resistance ....I now live in Texas...even the mention of such a thing will get you hate mail and editorials in the local papers....I know there are other places with equally diverse opinions .. so if you live in the US and "universal Health Care for "free" is your goal you are on the road to long term disappointment. I know personally several persons who have relocated to certain parts of the country because of the services and attitude of the general population in that particular place.They made rational decisions and took advantage of the possibilities....

I'm always fascinated by these red state arguments in light of the recent trends in polling on this issue -- though I agree that God will be in the details:

Quote

By a 57 - 38 percent margin, American voters feel it is the government's responsibility to make sure everyone in the U.S. has adequate health care, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Voters also feel 60 - 33 percent that the government should provide health insurance for those who can't afford it.

By a 57 - 38 percent margin, American voters feel it is the government's responsibility to make sure everyone in the U.S. has adequate health care, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Voters also feel 60 - 33 percent that the government should provide health insurance for those who can't afford it.

What you get by a poll and what is actual, is two totally different sets of circumstances. I love how they give the percentages but never give the actual number polled.

Rod, I agree that things could have been done a long time ago. But the Bush administration vetoed the Congress' decision to have expanded healthcare for children. Bush vetoes anything it seems that doesn't have to do with extra money for the war that we shouldn't even be in. England, which I'm sure everyone knows, will be pulling out by the end of January. This administration makes me nauceous, really it does.

I'm not saying that America is a hellhole to live in. What I am saying is that a country as rich and advanced as ours should not be charging such outrageous prices for healthcare and turning people away because of it being a matter of money (or lack of insurance). Or giving second-rate service to people because of their financial situation. I know in reality if the government tried to pass universal health coverage, most people would turn it down. That's just how selfish a lot of Americans are. Most people in America are overworked, stressed out etc. When I sit at a redlight I observe people coming in the other direction. They all look like they're about ready to snap. OK, now I'm getting on my soapbox and I'll stop. It's just madness I tell you, madness.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Betty, did you see why Bush vetoed it? An income of a hundred thousand dollars combined would be able to get free health care for their kids. Now is that ridiculous or what? Now if they are making that kind of money they can afford their insurance and co-pay. If they can't, they are living to high above there means.

Rod, I am not a lover of anything Bush does. Like I said, it seems like the only things he lets pass through his veto-penned fingers are things having to do with spending more money on this war that we shouldn't be in in the first place. Like I said in another post "I think, therefore I am a liberal." And the Republican candidates don't offer much more. Not that I would ever vote Republican. I subscribe to Rolling Stone and read everything on the candidates. I like to stay informed, especially about the people I don't care for (kind of like the Godfather mentality, keep your friends close, your enemies closer). What, Roddles, may I ask is your big thing with Bush? Are you a Republican?(*gasping for air*)

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

I just received my statement for costs since Oct. 07, so I figured out the monthly figure and added on two months to account for the remainder of the year. My yearly costs for all prescription will amount to a whopping $89,832.07 How utterly frightening is that?

Of course, $36,000 of that is fuzeon alone.

Add on my doctor visits, labs etc. and then it's really scary.

I'd love to see an aggregate figure for the past 15 years of treatment.

In UK, we are very lucky, i think its because of the percentage amount we pay on tax is unbelievable, that's why health care here is free, starting from the DR through out, if you have a job you pay your medicine at a lower fixed cost before it use to be £5, I think now its £7, this is the amount of any medicine a doctor can prescribe you. when it comes HIV med, its all free and even seeing the doctor,lab and you even have a health care adviser who follows up if you miss appointment, which is great! To get all that we have to pay higher taxes the government to support the health care, you are looking at, paying tax for the house you live, to the car you drive and work and all of them with different %, the more you earn the more you pay tax!

Yasoza,I don't know what the answer is for the U.S. I don't want to pay more in taxes to get better insurance. My property insurance went up 300% last year (LOVE Florida) and our property taxes have doubled, not to mention gas, groceries, and everything else and of course my co-pays for meds and doctors visits. My main concern is keep good health insurance for myself and my partner, that's all I work for anymore is health insurance for both of us. If my current employer were to drop DP benefits, I'd have to move just to continue getting benefits for both of us.

An income of a hundred thousand dollars combined would be able to get free health care for their kids

Rod would you please provide a reliable link that proves this. I would respectfully ask you Rod, why should you receive the healthcare you receive provided by our taxes and no one else should be entitled to that life saving luxury? If you truly believe in the market system why don't you pay for your own healthcare? I just don't get it.

An income of a hundred thousand dollars combined would be able to get free health care for their kids

Rod would you please provide a reliable link that proves this. I would respectfully ask you Rod, why should you receive the healthcare you receive provided by our taxes and no one else should be entitled to that life saving luxury? If you truly believe in the market system why don't you pay for your own healthcare? I just don't get it.

Do you have trouble reading the news as why Bush explained the veto? You know Hal, you always tend to stick your foot in your mouth. As to paying taxes, I've paid taxes for 34 years Hal. How many years have you paid into taxes? As for the rest of questions, I don't believe it is any of your (and being as nice as I can) fucking business. How's that Hal?

Do you have trouble reading the news as why Bush explained the veto? You know Hal, you always tend to stick your foot in your mouth. As to paying taxes, I've paid taxes for 34 years Hal. How many years have you paid into taxes? As for the rest of questions, I don't believe it is any of your (and being as nice as I can) fucking business. How's that Hal?

As I would expect from you Rod. Sorry I'm off to work now Rod so my taxes can continue to pay for your healthcare. Something that I am more than happy to do. Something that I have been doing since 1967 when I got my first job. As long as you got yours I guess there really is no reason for you to worry about anyone else. I stand by what I say to you Rod everytime you callously dismiss the basic, decent, argument that everyone who pays taxes should be entitled to the same government run healthcare that keeps you alive. If you really believed what you say Rod you would pay for your own. How someone on Medicaid/Medicare can even comment on this topic is beyond me.

The reason their christmas is so merry (and after all isn't every christmas merry for this class?) is their political power. I would only suggest that we should call them 'The health care controllers', not 'providers'.

He bills Medicare $164 for my nearly hour-long appointments, and ends up getting around $100, and now he's looking at another 10% cut in Medicare allowances in Jan. 2008.

I'm guessing he's doing fine financially, but it's no thanks to me.

The big pharma's are doing better by me. My total for 2007 (fresh off my printer) is $38,307.71, and it would be much more if I always said yes. My rheumatologist wants to double up on the Humira this year (add $16,800), and I've stopped meds for the neuropathy. I don't know if it's prudent of me, but I get stuck on the thought that less is better (in some cases), and I settle for a dosage that manages things at a level I can tolerate (as opposed to a higher dosage that might completely alleviate the symptoms). Sometimes it's because the cost vs. benefit just seems so insane, but it's usually because I just don't want to throw anymore pills or injections at my body than the absolute minimum I can get by with.

Everyone here in the U.S. needs to watch the movie "Sicko." I did and it made me very angry. We need a major change to the health care system here.

I saw it this week on DVD. Very interesting movie. The British interviews were the best. That one doctor who lives in a nice 4 bedroom house in a nice part of England and drives an Audi basically said he's part of a healthcare meritocracy and he seemed like a happy camper. I was in awe.

I am on full healthcare cover and also a Government pension and I am still $7800 out of pocket since July - So much for the Australian SystemMaybe the new Government will review healthcare so that the high earners pay as well

Alright, because of this thread I asked the pharmacy what my insurance company was paying for my medicine. I am lucky and have only a 20 copay for my each of my 3 meds. But the insurance company is paying nearly 2500 a month for my pills alone (and they don't pay full price). Then add in my blood tests and doctor bills which I see when the insurance company sends me notices and I am at nearly 5000 a month. I see the ID doc every six weeks once for the blood draw and consult and then 4-5 days later to get the results and go over any new things we should do.

Add in the 3 psych meds I am taking and the 300 bucks I am paying a month for my COBRA insurance is a total bargain!

I am sooo thankful I have the awesome insurance that I do have. I really don't know how anyone can be HIV+ and get the treatment that they need here in the US without amazing insurance. This is insane. Anyone in England want to get married so I can have y'alls awesome healthcare? From what I understand its really great with the mixed of socialized and private medicine there.

In the movie Sicko, they talked to a woman from the U.S. who had a friend in Canada who was letting her use his address to get healthcare. Sad when a country won't take care of its citizens but funnel trillions of dollars for a war all about oil.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

But in the US thanks to the lobbyists its all about the almighty dollar. Insurance companies, pharmacy companies, etc all lobby to make sure the american public believe that socialized medicine is the worst thing ever. People don't realize that a combination of the two will be fantastic, but it will cost the insurance companies business and cost the pharmacy business billions. I mean Bush vetoed a bill to give more children access to doctors calling it to close to socialized medicine. I really feel awful for anyone in the this country that doesn't have insurance.

Thankfully we pay a national insurance payment along with income tax from our wages from our jobs over here in England and this funds our free at source national health service - I do feel for you over there - I really don`t envy your healthcare system of payment atall.

The monies are deducted from our wages just like regular income tax and being use to it we don`t think of it as two taxes due to it being deducted at source - though it actually is. The money goes to fund our national health service and it`s there for all of us - our birth right as British citizens - employed, unemployed or homeless it does not matter as nobody is excluded healthcare - yes the employed pay for everyone. The system was brought in by a very socialist Labour party and it is one British policy that no political party dare revoke.

I didnt go though every post but did anyone see Micheal Moore's Movie "Sicko"Its a must see to me..

Free health care in so many european countries as well as Cuba......France, England,Canada.....

Now I as you why cant we have that same policy here..

It seems the USA would like us to dislike Canadians, the French, and cuba..SO many americans say, Iam proud to be an american.. Not if they were educated about how the health care system works for other countries.

Its just a business to them..This is the richest State..AMERICA....so whats the problem.

Maybe I should ask George Bush..........Put that money into the health care systemand get our boys and girls back home..

I swear, I hate Bush so much, I shaved my off....

Hes a total idiot with the world's worst presidentical status, with americans..........Hes is rated the lowest of all the presidents we have had before. Anyone wondering why??

Because hes a total butthead.

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Live Love Laugh and dance like no ones watching.Laughter is the best medicine, so try to have a laugh everyday..Even if your not feeling your best, think about something that was funny at one time in your life and work with it.. )